I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth. That is easy to do when all is going well; however, what about those times when nothing is going right? Can we still quote this scripture with confidence? I know that there have been times, that I almost couldn’t enjoy the good times with ease, because of knowing that at any moment, everything could change to test my faith in God.

With each step of my journey in Christ, I have learned to appreciate the moment in time that I’m currently in, and not worry about those things that can’t be changed from the past, or the unknown future decisions that I must make. When you are always seeking something more, or better, than what you currently have, you miss the whole point of the scriptures where Paul says, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

Why would the Lord want us to “be content”? It is so difficult to be thankful for the Lord’s blessings in our lives when we are only focused on what is flawed in our lives. I have roses at home, and they are blooming, again. On a rose bush, you have thorns, also. If I focused on the abundance of thorns, instead of the flowers that bloom, I may see my rose bush in an entirely different light.

It’s better to remember where God brought us from, to be able to see his hand at work in our lives. When I think back to those times where I felt abandoned, or lonely, or unhappy, and like there was some greater purpose in my life that I was missing, it is so easy to find that the Lord’s mercy endureth forever. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 we are reminded:

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Have you offered up a thanksgiving prayer, today? He is worthy of all of our praise and adoration. With everything that is happening in our world, today, we can rest assured that God is still in control. We may even have a twinge of fear, at times, but we can rest assured that the Lord will be a shield for us. In this week’s, Lattereign, we are reminded to let God arise and his enemies be scattered.  He Changes Times and Seasons